Spicy Sabudana Khichdi

A simple Sabudana and potato combo preparation, which is light on the stomach. These sago pearls are commonly used as a fast time food in northern India.

The first time ever that I ever had Sabudana Khichdi, was when my good friend , made it. I was so completely love with the dish…She makes it so delectable taking time to soak it to a particular consistency, sauteing it in spices, with little pieces of potatoes peeking here and there and flavours it with a flourish with roasted ground powder of red chilli and peanuts. It was unimaginably delicious…Sabudana Khichdi is a pretty tricky proposition …It matters how you soak the sabudana and one should not soak for too long, or in too much water that all you get is starchy mush, or on the other hand, a little less water and it would roll off like balls of mercury away from your palm.Soak sabudana in water overnight.(5 to 6 hour) The water added should be at the level of the sabudana.

Ingredients

1 cup - Sago / Sabudana
1 big - Boiled potato, cubed

Seasoning

1/2 tsp - Mustard seeds
1/2 tsp - Urad dal
1/2 tsp - Jeera seeds
2 - Whole dry red chili
1 sprig - Curry leaves
1/4 tsp - Red chili powder
1/4 tsp - Turmeric powder
Salt to taste

Method

1 ) Wash and soak sago in enough water to cover sago. Soak sago overnight. Drain water from sago and set aside.

2 ) In a kadai heat oil, add mustard seeds, pop it, add jeera, urad dal,(if you prepair for fast, don't add dal or muster seeds) dry red chili and fry in oil. Add curry leaves, for a second, add potato and mix and stir.Add red chili and turmeric powder, Add salt to taste.

3 ) Now lower the heat to very low heat, this is very important step to make to get a non- soggy sago. Now when the pan is not very hot, add sago, stir and cook for 2 to 3 minutes covered with a lid. Sago will cook fast. Otherwise place sago in a microwave safe bowl, add the seasoning potato mixture to the sago and mix in well. Microwave for 2 to 3 minutes, breaking the cooking time 1 minute each. Cook till sago is translucent.

Serve for breakfast.

To microwave potato : Wash one potato. Pierce deep into the potato two times, down to the center. Wrap the potato in a moist paper towel. Place in microwave and microwave for 3 minutes.